King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos Premieres Ahead of Nationwide Cinema Release

Nollywood’s highly anticipated historical epic King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos has premiered in Lagos ahead of its nationwide cinema release on Friday, August 28, 2026. The grand premiere was held on Sunday, August 23, at IMAX Cinema, Lekki, bringing together Nollywood stars, traditional rulers, cultural figures and other distinguished guests. (The Pledge)

King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos

Directed by Adebayo Tijani, the Yoruba-language historical drama tells the story of Oba Kosoko, the 12th Oba of Lagos, and the political struggles, rivalries and resistance that shaped Lagos during the 19th century.

The story is set between 1833 and 1852, a period marked by intense battles over the Lagos throne and growing external influence. The film explores themes of power, betrayal, leadership, succession and resistance. (News Agency of Nigeria)

Femi Adebayo Leads Star-Studded Cast

Femi Adebayo takes on the lead role as King Kosoko, with a large ensemble cast featuring some of Nollywood’s biggest names.

The cast includes:

• Femi Adebayo
• Odunlade Adekola
• Jide Kosoko
• Gabriel Afolayan
• Faithia Balogun
• Yinka Quadri
• Taiwo Hassan
• Tina Mba
• Femi Branch

The production features more than 70 actors, reflecting the scale of the historical epic. (News Agency of Nigeria)

When Will King Kosoko Be Released in Cinemas?

Following its Lagos premiere, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos will open in cinemas across Nigeria on Friday, August 28, 2026.

The film is produced by Teqsus Studios and distributed by FilmOne Entertainment. Cinema listings currently show the movie as a Yoruba-language Nollywood drama with a runtime of approximately 2 hours 13 minutes. (Silverbird Cinemas)

The nationwide release is expected to give audiences an opportunity to experience a major chapter of Lagos history on the big screen.

A New Historical Chapter for Nollywood

King Kosoko arrives as Nollywood continues to invest in films that revisit important moments in Nigerian history and present them to contemporary audiences.

By telling the story primarily in Yoruba and focusing on the political dynamics of 19th-century Lagos, the movie places indigenous history and culture at the centre of a large-scale cinema production.

With its impressive cast, historical setting and nationwide theatrical release, King Kosoko: The Battle for Lagos is positioned as one of the major Nigerian cinema releases of August 2026.